Classifications

• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
  • C12M—APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS
  • C12M21/00—Bioreactors or fermenters specially adapted for specific uses
  • C12M21/02—Photobioreactors
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
  • C12M—APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS
  • C12M29/00—Means for introduction, extraction or recirculation of materials, e.g. pumps
  • C12M29/06—Nozzles; Sprayers; Spargers; Diffusers
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
  • C12M—APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS
  • C12M29/00—Means for introduction, extraction or recirculation of materials, e.g. pumps
  • C12M29/06—Nozzles; Sprayers; Spargers; Diffusers
  • C12M29/08—Air lift
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
  • C12M—APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS
  • C12M31/00—Means for providing, directing, scattering or concentrating light
  • C12M31/02—Means for providing, directing, scattering or concentrating light located outside the reactor
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
  • C12M—APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS
  • C12M31/00—Means for providing, directing, scattering or concentrating light
  • C12M31/10—Means for providing, directing, scattering or concentrating light by light emitting elements located inside the reactor, e.g. LED or OLED
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
  • C12M—APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS
  • C12M41/00—Means for regulation, monitoring, measurement or control, e.g. flow regulation
  • C12M41/06—Means for regulation, monitoring, measurement or control, e.g. flow regulation of illumination
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
  • C12M—APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS
  • C12M41/00—Means for regulation, monitoring, measurement or control, e.g. flow regulation
  • C12M41/06—Means for regulation, monitoring, measurement or control, e.g. flow regulation of illumination
  • C12M41/08—Means for changing the orientation
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
  • G02B5/00—Optical elements other than lenses
  • G02B5/02—Diffusing elements; Afocal elements
  • G02B5/0268—Diffusing elements; Afocal elements characterized by the fabrication or manufacturing method
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
  • G02B5/00—Optical elements other than lenses
  • G02B5/02—Diffusing elements; Afocal elements
  • G02B5/0273—Diffusing elements; Afocal elements characterized by the use
  • G02B5/0284—Diffusing elements; Afocal elements characterized by the use used in reflection
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
  • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
  • G02B6/0001—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems
  • G02B6/0011—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems the light guides being planar or of plate-like form
  • G02B6/0033—Means for improving the coupling-out of light from the light guide
  • G02B6/0035—Means for improving the coupling-out of light from the light guide provided on the surface of the light guide or in the bulk of it
  • G02B6/0036—2-D arrangement of prisms, protrusions, indentations or roughened surfaces

Definitions

• the present invention relates to the general technical field of reactors with integrated lighting, in particular for the culture of photosensitive microorganisms.
• It can be a bioreactor but also a chemical or physicochemical reactor.
• bioreactor designates a reactor within which biological phenomena develop, such as the growth of cultures of pure microorganisms or of a consortium of microorganisms (in particular microalgae), in very varied fields such as the treatment of effluents, the production of biomass containing biomolecules of interest (that is to say biomolecules which we know how to use).
• This concept therefore includes in particular reactors called fermenters.
• a bioreactor typically comprises a tank (cylindrical or parallelepiped) containing a culture medium of biological species (yeasts, bacteria, microscopic fungi, algae, animal and plant cells) for: the production of biomass, or for the production of a metabolite , or for the bioconversion of a molecule of interest.
• a culture medium of biological species yeasts, bacteria, microscopic fungi, algae, animal and plant cells
• bioreactors that is to say bioreactors in which a supply of light (continuously, cyclically, or in the form of pulses) is implemented.
• Photo-bioreactors have already been proposed in which the light is supplied from the inside of the tank.
• Document US Pat. No. 3,986,297 proposes in particular a photo-bioreactor in which the supply of light is carried out by immersion, in the culture medium, of means illumination (such as xenon lamps).
• a drawback of this solution is that the efficiency of the photo-bioreactor is inversely proportional to the dimensions of the latter. Thus, the more the dimensions of the photo-bioreactor increase, the more its efficiency decreases.
• Photo-bioreactors have also been proposed in which the light is supplied from the outside of the vessel.
• a well-controlled configuration consists in providing the tank with windows allowing the penetration of a light generated from outside the tank (natural or artificial light).
• a drawback of such a configuration is that the windows limit the illumination surface and absorb or reflect a significant part of the photons emitted by the illumination source.
• the productivity of a photo-bioreactor is directly linked to its specific surface (rati of illuminated surface to culture volume). It is therefore necessary for the photo-bioreactor to have a large illuminated specific surface.
• An object of the present invention is to provide an economical photo-bioreactor, both in terms of investments and operating costs, and of which the land footprint is reduced.
• Another aim of the invention is to provide a high capacity photo-bioreactor (tank of 1000 liters or more) in which the yield in quantity of photons (pmol-ph-s 1 ) supplied by a luminous surface per unit of power (Watt) is optimized.
• the invention provides a reactor including a vessel intended to contain: o a mass to be treated, and o at least one lighting device intended to promote the treatment of this mass, remarkable in that each lighting device understand : a light diffuser, the diffuser including at least one micro-etched plate transparent to light radiation, said plate having opposite back and front faces and at least two slices between the back and front faces, the area of each face being greater at the area of each wafer, the rear face including a plurality of micropatterns, a light source for generating the light radiation, the light source being disposed on at least one wafer of the plate and being oriented such that the radiation light that it generates propagates in the plate.
• a light diffuser including at least one micro-etched plate transparent to light radiation, said plate having opposite back and front faces and at least two slices between the back and front faces, the area of each face being greater at the area of each wafer, the rear face including a plurality of micropatterns, a light source for generating the light radiation, the light source being disposed on at least
• This solution makes it possible to obtain a photo-bioreactor with better yields (energy on the one hand, and in biomass production on the other hand) than existing photo-bioreactors.
• micro-etched plate allows the homogeneous conduction of the light radiation generated by the light source. Photon energy is guided through the entire micro-etched pack and emerges from it over the entire surface of its front face, which improves the ratio of illuminated area / illuminated volume directly in contact with the culture medium.
• the invention makes it possible to increase the pmol-photons ratio s -1 W 1 per unit of volume, which ensures a reduction in the environmental footprint of the photo-bioreactor and reduces the costs associated with its operation.
• each plate can be substantially planar and comprise four slices, each light source including a plurality of light emitting diodes arranged on at least one of the more slices. small dimensions; each plate may be cylindrical and include two wafers, each light source including a plurality of light emitting diodes disposed on at least one of the two wafers; the diodes of the plurality of light-emitting diodes can be placed on the edge of the plate furthest from the bottom of the tank; each light diffuser can comprise a pair of micro-etched plates arranged so that their rear faces extend facing each other; each light diffuser may further comprise at least one layer of material reflecting light radiation, each layer of reflecting material extending over the rear face of a respective plate; each light diffuser may further comprise at least one transmission layer, each layer of transmission material extending over the front face of a respective plate; the reactor may include a plurality of light diffusers, two adjacent light diffusers being spaced apart by a distance of between
• Figure 1 is a schematic perspective representation of a first variant of the photo-bioreactor according to the invention.
• Figure 2 is a schematic perspective representation of a lighting device
• Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional representation of a first embodiment of the lighting device
• Figure 4 is a schematic cross-sectional representation of a second embodiment of the lighting device
• Figure 5 is a schematic representation of an experimental variant of a photo bioreactor
• FIG. 6 is a curve illustrating the yield in biomass production (as a function of various parameters) obtained from the experimental variant of a photo bioreactor illustrated in FIG. 5;
• FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of a second variant of a photo bioreactor
• Figure 8 is a curve illustrating the maximum concentration of microalgae as a function of the distance between two adjacent lighting devices
• Fig. 9 is a block diagram illustrating the difference between continuous lighting and discontinuous lighting
• Figure 10 shows curves of microalgae concentration as a function of the distance between two adjacent lighting devices in the case of continuous lighting on the one hand and in the case of discontinuous lighting on the other hand.
• the bioreactor comprises:
• a tank 1 intended to receive a mass to be treated, A plurality of lighting devices 2a, 2b, and
• An injection system including a plurality of diffusion units 3 of carbon dioxide (C0 2 ) in the form of gas bubbles or in the form of a fluid consisting of C0 2 dissolved in an aqueous medium.
• C0 2 carbon dioxide
• Each lighting device is intended to be integrated into the tank for the treatment of the medium contained in the tank. These lighting devices are intended to be completely immersed in the culture medium.
• the bioreactor will be described with reference to the treatment of a biomass formed from microorganisms, for example microalgae. It will be understood, however, that the following description also applies to other types of reactors, chemical or physicochemical.
• the lighting devices 2a, 2b are arranged at a non-zero distance from the bottom of the tank.
• the lighting devices 2a, 2b can be of different heights.
• the bioreactor can comprise: a first group 2a of lighting devices having a first height h a , and a second group 2b of lighting devices having a second height h b less than the first height h a , a device lighting of the second group 2b being arranged between two successive lighting devices of the first group 2a. This makes it possible to promote mixing and homogenization of the mass to be treated.
• the diffusion units 3 of the injection system can be placed periodically downstream of each lighting device of the first group 2a (the reactor being devoid of a control unit. diffusion 3 downstream of the lighting device of the second group 2b).
• the mass to be treated is entrained vertically towards the top of the tank 1 (ie direction opposite the bottom) by the bubbles of C0 2 (or the fluid containing the C0 2 dissolved) emitted (or emitted) by the diffusion units 3.
• the mass to be treated passes above the lighting device of the second group 2b and falls to the bottom of the tank by gravity. This creates a circulation of the mass to be treated through the tank, which improves the mixing and homogenization of the mass to be treated.
• the lighting devices 2a, 2b of the bioreactor can all be of identical height. This makes it possible to simplify the installation of the lighting devices by an operator.
• the diffusion units 3 are arranged every two lighting devices so that two successive diffusion units 3 are separated by two adjacent lighting devices 2a, 2b. 1.1. Tank
• the tank 1 is intended to contain the mass to be treated. It comprises a bottom and at least one side wall.
• the tank 1 is substantially parallelepiped. It consists of a bottom, four side walls and a ceiling (or cover) at least partially removable.
• the tank 1 may be cylindrical and include a lower base forming a bottom, an upper base forming a cover, and a side wall between the lower and upper bases.
• the material constituting the walls of the tank 1 can be stainless steel or equivalent. Of course, other materials can be chosen depending on the intended application (Plexiglass®, Polypropylene, Concrete, etc.). In all cases, the tank is preferably made of a material resistant to cleaning products (bleach, peroxide, etc.).
• each lighting device 2a, 2b comprises: one (or more) light diffuser (s) 21, and one (or more) light source (s) 22.
• the light source 22 allows the generation of a luminous flux.
• the light diffuser 21 makes it possible to: guide the light flux generated by the light source, and redisperse it homogeneously towards the mass to be treated.
• each light source 22 can be independently connected to an electric power supply module.
• the module makes it possible to supply the electrical energy necessary for the generation of the luminous flux.
• the fact that each light source is independently connected to an electrical power supply module allows each lighting device 2a, 2b to be individually removed from the bioreactor during operation.
• the light diffuser 21 comprises one (or more) textured plate (s) 211.
• Each plate 211 can be substantially flat and rectangular (suitable in the case of a parallelepipedal tank) or tubular (suitable in the case of a cylindrical tank).
• Each plate 211 comprises a rear face 2113, a front face 2114 and: four side edges (or edges) 2111 in the case of a rectangular plate 211, or two side edges (or edges) 2111 in the case of a plate 211 tubular.
• Each side edge 2111 can be polished, and at least one of the side edges 2111 is intended to come into contact with the light source 22 to allow the transmission of the light flux through the plate 211.
• each plate 211 can be poly-methyl methacrylate (PMMA) or another transparent material known to those skilled in the art which allows the plate 211 to conduct - by total internal reflection on its front and rear faces - the luminous flux emitted by the light source 22, such as for example: another transparent methacrylate resin such as methyl methacrylate, ethyl ethacrylate, butyl methacrylate, propyl or isopropyl methacrylate, or a transparent resin polystyrene, polycarbonate, polyacrylate, or glass / fused silica type.
• PMMA poly-methyl methacrylate
• another transparent methacrylate resin such as methyl methacrylate, ethyl ethacrylate, butyl methacrylate, propyl or isopropyl methacrylate
• a transparent resin polystyrene polycarbonate, polyacrylate, or glass / fused silica type.
• each plate 211 comprises a plurality of micro-patterns 2112 on its rear face 2113.
• the micro-patterns 2112 make it possible to intercept the rays 23 of the luminous flux circulating through the plate 211 and to direct them towards the front face 2114 so as to facilitate their transmission out of the plate 211. More precisely, the radiations 23 which strike each micro-pattern 2112 are redispersed. Each radiation 23 is re-emitted at an angle such that it can exit the plate 211 via the front face 2114 opposite to the rear face 2113 comprising the micro-patterns 2112.
• Each micro-pattern 2112 can consist of a cavity - point or groove - having a shape chosen from a conical shape, a (poly) pyramidal shape, a quadrangular shape, or any other shape known to those skilled in the art and allowing each micro-pattern 2112 to deflect the radiations 23 of the luminous flux. Particularly in the example illustrated in Figure 3, the micro-patterns 2112 consist of fine grooves parallel to the side edge 2111 in contact with the light source 22.
• the micro-patterns 2112 can consist of deflection elements other than cavities, such as: light scattering particles arranged in the material constituting the plate 211, or surface texturing components arranged on the rear face 2113, such as for example emergent hemispherical structures, bumps extending outwardly from the rear face 2113, emerged pyramidal structures or combinations comprising at least one of the preceding structures.
• the height (ie dimension along an axis perpendicular to the rear face) of each micro-pattern 2112 can be between 0.15 and 0.5 ⁇ m, and the pitch between two adjacent micro-patterns can be between 20 and 900 ⁇ m , and in particular greater than or equal to 100 ⁇ m.
• the micro-patterns 2112 can be arranged on the rear face 2113 at a consecutive spacing inversely proportional to the distance of said micro-patterns 2112 from the side edge 2111 in contact with the light source 22.
• Such an arrangement makes it possible to obtain a constant luminous intensity over the entire surface of the rear face 2113.
• the intensity of the luminous flux which penetrates into the plate 211 decreases as a function of its distance relative to the light source 22.
• By varying the density of the microphone - patterns 2112 on the rear face 2113 it is possible to compensate for the loss of intensity by an increasing density of micro-patterns 2112.
• the light diffuser 21 may also include a layer of material 212 reflecting the light flux.
• This layer of reflective material 212 preferably extends over the entire rear face 2113 of the plate 211 including the plurality of micro-patterns 2112.
• the reflective material layer 212 may consist of a film of reflective material such as a metallized aluminum film.
• the layer of reflective material 212 may consist of a paint having a lower refractive index than that of the material 211 constituting each plate 21.
• the light diffuser 21 can also include a transmission layer 213 on the front face 2114 of the plate 211.
• This transmission layer 213 helps to promote the transmission of radiation 23 of the light flux to the outside of the plate 211.
• This transmission layer 213 also makes it possible to smooth the illumination effect obtained with the light diffuser 21.
• the transmission layer 213 finally makes it possible to protect the plate 21 against possible mechanical attacks (scratches due to friction, etc.).
• the transmission layer 213 may for example consist of a protective varnish with a refractive index close to the refractive index of the material constituting the plate 211.
• Each light source 22 may include one (or more) light emitting diode (s) (LED) 221.
• each diode 221 is a high power light emitting diode. (HPLED), that is to say an LED with a power greater than 1 Watt.
• HPLED high power light emitting diode
• each diode 221 can be a light emitting diode with direct chip mounting (also known under the name of “COB” LED, acronym of the English expression “Chip On Board”).
• the light source 22 may include a COB LED module composed of several LED chips attached to a substrate (for example) of ceramic. This makes it possible to generate a more powerful and dense luminous flux.
• the diodes 221 of the light source 22 can be individual, or be arranged “in a strip” or “in a ribbon” (see patent application FR1050015).
• the use of diodes arranged in a ribbon makes it possible to facilitate the manufacture of the lighting device, each light source 22 being intended to come into contact with a lateral edge of the to be placed on a lateral edge 2111 of the plate 211 of the diffuser. light 21.
• the diodes 221 can be supplied with electrical energy via one (or more) connection cable (s) electrically connected to a source of electrical energy.
• the diodes 221 of the light source 22 can all be identical with the same excitation regime, or be different.
• the diodes 221 of a light source 22 can have: distinct excitation regimes (for example continuous regime for some, and flash regime at a frequency between 1 and 150 kHz for others), and / or distinct emission spectra (for example in white light for some and in blue light for others), etc.
• Each light source 22 can also include one (or more) reflector (s) (not shown) for reflecting, orienting and focusing the light produced by the diodes 221.
• Each light source is intended to come into contact with a lateral edge of the plate 211 so that the radiation 23 of the luminous flux generated by the light source propagates inside the plate 211.
• the diodes 221 and the connection cable (s) can be embedded / molded in resin to seal each light source.
• the lighting device comprises a light source 22 intended to come into contact with a lateral edge 2111 of the plate 211.
• each lighting device can comprise two sources of light.
• light 22 intended to come into contact with a respective opposite side edge 2111 of the plate 211.
• each lighting device may comprise four light sources 22 intended to come into contact with a respective side edge 2111 of the plate 211 .
• injection system makes it possible to supply the bioreactor with nutrients, in particular with C0 2 .
• the injection system makes it possible: to supply the carbon dioxide necessary for the development of the biomass and to suspend the carrier particles of microorganisms contained in the biomass culture medium.
• the supply of carbon dioxide can be continuous or discontinuous in response to certain criteria such as time or pH
• carbon dioxide can be introduced: in the form of gas bubbles, or in the form of a solution aqueous pumped or pushed into the bioreactor.
• the introduction of carbon dioxide in the form of gas bubbles allows a better distribution of C0 2 in the tank.
• the injection system can include: a C0 2 supply unit - such as a booster (in the case of gaseous C0 2 ) or a pump (of the turbine type in the case of fluid C0 2 ) - preferably fitted a non-return valve to prevent sludge or effluent from rising to the level of the C0 2 supply unit, a plurality of diffusion units 3 forming: o in the case of gaseous C0 2 , micro-bubbling heads for the diffusion of bubbles of different diameters, o in the case of C0 2 dissolved in an aqueous medium, fluid ejection nozzles for the diffusion of the fluid containing dissolved C0 2.
• a C0 2 supply unit such as a booster (in the case of gaseous C0 2 ) or a pump (of the turbine type in the case of fluid C0 2 ) - preferably fitted a non-return valve to prevent sludge or effluent from rising to the level of the C0 2 supply unit
• Diffusion units can be of different types known to those skilled in the art, for example diffusers made of microporous composite materials, membrane (EPDM, silicone, etc., preferably EPDM), ceramic or slot, etc.
• diffusers made of microporous composite materials, membrane (EPDM, silicone, etc., preferably EPDM), ceramic or slot, etc.
• Each diffusion unit is preferably placed in the immediate vicinity of the bottom of the tank. Furthermore, each diffusion unit 3 is arranged between two adjacent lighting devices 2a, 2b, the different diffusion units 3 being arranged so that each diffusion unit 3 is surrounded by lighting devices separate from the lighting devices. 2a, 2b surrounding the other diffusion units 3 In other words, each diffusion unit 3 is separated from the nearest diffusion unit 3 (or the closest units) by two lighting devices 2a, 2b .
• biomass treatment The biomass cultivated in the reactor according to the invention can be harvested by any technique known to those skilled in the art such as sedimentation, filtration, flotation or centrifugation techniques.
• the biomass harvest can be carried out continuously or semi-continuously, in particular in the case where the bioreactor is located on an industrial site.
• the bioreactor can be associated with a separation unit - decanter and / or centrifuge and / or filter etc. - allowing to take a portion of the contents of the tank to separate the biomass from the culture medium
• the biomass thus extracted can then be packaged (vacuum freezing, etc.) for later use.
• the culture medium, once separated from the biomass, can be reintroduced into the tank of the bioreactor.
• the reactor can also include a control module including one (or more) sensor (s) for checking the parameters of the bioreactor.
• the control module can include: one (or more) pH probe (s), one (or more) sensor (s) for measuring the level of C0 2 , one (or more) light sensor (s), one (or more) PO3 / 4 , and / or NO3, and / or NHL sensor (s), one (or more) temperature sensor (s).
• control module can adapt the quantity of C0 2 injected into the culture medium according to the measurements carried out by the pH probe and / or by the sensor (s) for measuring the level of C0 2 , etc. . For example, if the measured C0 2 rate is less than a threshold, the control module can order the injection of a greater quantity of C0 2 into the tank (relative to a set quantity). Conversely, if the measured pH is below a predetermined threshold, the control module can order the injection of a lower quantity of C0 2 (relative to a set quantity).
• control module can control the activation of a heat exchanger - such as a plate exchanger - integrated in the bioreactor tank to heat. (respectively cool) the culture medium.
• a heat exchanger - such as a plate exchanger - integrated in the bioreactor tank
• control module can adapt a quantity of nutrient (phosphorus, nitrogen, etc.) injected into the culture medium (by acting on the activation / deactivation of a pump connected to a source of nutrients, etc.).
• nutrient phosphorus, nitrogen, etc.
• the measurement of information representative of the light inside the culture medium allows an estimate of the biomass concentration inside the tank.
• the control module can suspend the biomass harvest.
• the control module can initiate the biomass harvest.
• This sizing of the bioreactor is carried out by considering a continuous light supply, that is to say by considering that each light source 22 generates continuous light radiation of constant intensity over time.
• the following representation shows the adjustable parameters to deduce productivities in a photo-bioreactor. Here it will be preferable to reduce as much as possible the unlit fraction of the reactor and to increase the surface receiving the photon flux.
• the global model of the surface efficiency of a photo-bioreactor is as follows:
• p M is the maximum energy efficiency of conversion of light energy into physicochemical energy;
• f is the molar quantum yield of photosynthesis;
• a is the linear diffusion modulus;
• ang ht is the illuminated specific surface of the reactor over the volume;
• K corresponds to a half-saturation constant of photosynthesis (depends on the microorganism);
• ⁇ corresponds to the mean degree of collimation of the Incident radiation;
• Q n is the average flux density on the surface of the photo-bioreactor.
• the objective is to determine the optimum light flux diffusion area for the reactor.
• the number and arrangement of lighting devices can vary depending on the amount of biomass you want to produce.
• the lighting devices must include 2500 m 2 of light plates (light diffusers) emitting 1000 pmol / m 2 / s (light sources).
• This number is directly related to the desired efficiency, volume, geometry and light intensity.
• a reactor as illustrated in Figure 7 and comprising: a vessel having the following dimensions: 17meters x 2meters x 3meters (Length x width x Height in meters), and a volume of 100 m 3 of lighting devices including plates having dimensions of 3 meters x 2 meters x 0.01 meters (Length x width x Thickness).
• each lighting device can include two plates joined by their rear faces so that their front faces are opposite to each other (the rear faces of the two plates extending opposite and being in contact).
• An example of such a lighting device is illustrated in FIG. 4.
• d is the free distance between the front faces of two successive lighting devices, L corresponds to the length of the tank,
• Etot corresponds to the total thickness of the plates of the lighting devices (i.e. sum of the thicknesses of the plates),
• Nbpi acks is the number of plates required to have a bright surface 2500m 2.
• K a is an absorption coefficient
• Z corresponds to the length of the tank.
• FIG. 8 illustrates the maximum concentration of microalgae as a function of a distance between two adjacent lighting devices. If we consider that from 50 pmol / m 2 / s, the quantity of light is insufficient to have satisfactory yields, it is possible to determine the maximum concentration not to be exceeded. In the case of the device illustrated in figure 7 (and considering a free space "d" of 6 centimeters between the lighting devices), with an adjoining zone B located at 0.03 meters from each lighting device, the maximum concentration at not to cross is 1.5 g / L.
• This concentration can be measured using suspended matter sensors such as: 6131 Blue-Green Algae Sensor or ALS-OD4.
• the quantity of C0 2 must be obtained in such a way as to correspond to the proportion of photons provided (Bring as much C0 2 as there are photons provided by the reactor).
• the material with the best light propagation rate for the transmission panel that receives the engravings (acrylic, polycarbonate, etc.),
• FIG. 9 illustrates the difference between discontinuous lighting 31 and continuous lighting 32.
• Such a discontinuous supply of light indeed makes it possible to act positively on crop yield in terms of biomass.
• the change from a continuous light supply to a discontinuous light supply makes it possible to increase the distance between two adjacent light diffusers 21 (between 2 and 10 centimeters, preferably between 4 and 8 centimeters, and even more preferably substantially equal to 6 centimeters), while maintaining the other parameters identical to those calculated previously.
• This wave of photons makes it possible to increase the distance of entry of photons into the medium, and therefore to increase the distance between the light diffusers 21 with an identical biomass concentration.
• bioreactors intended for industrial applications allowing the treatment of the gases emitted.
• teachings of the present invention are not limited to bioreactors of large dimensions intended for industrial applications.
• the bioreactor can be of smaller dimensions.
• the bioreactor can include: a tank with transparent or translucent walls: o of length between 1 and 10 meters, o of width between 50 centimeters and 5 meters, o of thickness between 4 and 30 centimeters, a single lighting device integrated into the tank, an injection system including one (or more) diffusion units.
• Such a bioreactor can in particular be used in urban applications to replace certain existing panels such as one (or more) wall (s) of a Bus Shelter®, or any type of shelter.
• the shape of the tank is not necessarily parallelepiped, and depends on the intended application (cylindrical shape, etc.). Likewise, for certain applications, the walls of the tank may not be transparent or translucent.
• the lighting device is preferably placed in the tank so as to extend: parallel to the side walls of the tank of larger dimensions, (including a light diffuser composed of a pair of plates, and at equal distance from said side walls of larger dimensions.
• the lighting device also comprises a light source as described above.
• the dimensions of the tank are adapted so that the illumination of the mass to be treated by the lighting device is optimal.
• the distance separating: the light diffuser and each side wall of larger dimensions of the tank may be between 1 and 15 centimeters, preferably between 2 and 10 centimeters, and even more preferably between 3 and 6 centimeters.
• the solution described above makes it possible to increase the energy and biomass production yields of the reactor, in particular thanks to a homogeneous conduction of light, and to an optimal sizing of the various components of the reactor as a function of the maximum quantity of biomass desired in the reactor. reactor.
• the lighting and heating device was integrated in a reactor including a rotating assembly intended to ensure mixing of this mass of microorganisms. It is obvious to those skilled in the art that the lighting and heating device described above could be integrated in a reactor without a rotating assembly.

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• 2020
  • 2020-02-14 US US17/799,535 patent/US20230113048A1/en active Pending
  • 2020-02-14 FR FR2001492A patent/FR3107281A1/fr active Pending
• 2021
  • 2021-02-12 JP JP2022548946A patent/JP2023514244A/ja active Pending
  • 2021-02-12 BR BR112022016113A patent/BR112022016113A2/pt unknown
  • 2021-02-12 WO PCT/EP2021/053401 patent/WO2021160776A1/fr active Application Filing
  • 2021-02-12 EP EP21703939.5A patent/EP4103676A1/fr active Pending
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  • 2021-02-12 CN CN202180014224.6A patent/CN115087724A/zh active Pending
  • 2021-02-12 CA CA3167982A patent/CA3167982A1/fr active Pending
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